WHEN CHILD CARE IS NO OBLIGATION BUT PURE LUCK: CHILDREN ALONE AT HOME

Back to Life also cares a lot for the fate of the toddlers: The fathers are contract workers and travel for weeks to earn money – the mothers have to gather wood during the day, fetch water and do field work. The smallest are therefore left to the care of an older sister, who thus loses the opportunity to go to school. To improve the situation, we have provided for seven day-care centres so far, where 150 children are now taken care of during the morning, so that their siblings can go to school. If possible, these are connected to the schools. In one village we build an own building for it. The nursery school teachers prepare the little ones for school in a playful manner. They also receive a hot meal from us – often their only meal of the day.

The premises also serve as a meeting place for the kids-clubs, where teens meet under guidance to plan different activities. These range from the organization of small educational campaigns (such as the importance of school attendance, hygiene and children’s rights) to “quiz contests” (to playfully internalize what they have learned) to football tournaments.